Only six months into its existence, the Yordon Center is shining bright on Huskie athletics.

The 62,000-square foot facility is the epitome of what NIU needs to bring more quality recruits to the school.

“Facilities are very important in the recruiting process,” said Joe Novak, former NIU head football coach. “We [practically] avoided our old facilities with recruits that we were showing the school to.”

Attached to Huskie Stadium, the Yordon Center primarily houses facilities for the football team. However, other NIU teams use its weight room and activity rooms.

“It’s a tremendous building,” said Jerry Kill, NIU head football coach. “For the operation of a football program, and any athletic program, it was very well thought out and very well put together.”

“The atmosphere there; that building is such a nice facility,” Novak said. “The players and coaches were anxious to play and go to work because they have a great facility to do it in.”

To draw more recruits to any school, it is imperative that the school’s facilities are one of the biggest selling points.

“Recruiting is all about facilities and the glitter and glamour that comes with them,” said Kill. “This building was done first-class and they didn’t take any shortcuts.”

It is clear that NIU is using the Yordon Center as its center point for Huskie athletics in the recruiting process.

“We showcased [the Yordon Center],” Kill said. “We spent a lot of time with recruits in it and showing them how great and sufficient it is to have everything in one spot.”

With the football team in particular, the Yordon Center already has had an impact. Kill said the team had more verbal commitments than scholarships available, and that had a lot to do with the facility.

“I think for people looking to play here [in any sport], it’s a big asset,” NIU sophomore offensive lineman Jason Onyebuagu said.

For athletes, the Yordon Center not only has a huge impact on their athletic performance, but also helps with convenience for school. With its locker rooms, 12,500-square foot strength and conditioning center and meeting and study rooms, athletes are able to balance a heavy school schedule and athletics with greater ease.

“Everyone is excited to use the new facilities,” said Onyebuagu. “The study tables are right there [for before and after practice], and makes it much more convenient for an athlete with a busy schedule.”

“You’ve got everything right here, and you really don’t have to leave,” said Kill. “With this, when we bring a recruit on campus, we want them to think we’re committed to excellence, that we want to be good, and you can tell that by the facility.”

Athletes have already experienced a big difference.

“One player said he thought he transferred to another school,” Novak said about his players’ first impressions of the new building.

The Yordon Center also gives NIU an edge in recruiting that it previously didn’t have when competing with other MAC schools. This tool should help recruiting for NIU for many years to come.

“It’s amazing; one of the best [facilities] in the MAC,” said Onyebuagu. “It is a big tool for those who experience and use it.”

“I think it’s very comparable to other MAC schools,” Novak said. “We were at the bottom of our conference with facilities and now NIU is very comparable – better than some, right up there with others.”